Heddle



Feb. 7, 1967 D. A. Tow 3,302,666

HEDDLE Filed Dec. 16, 1964 Fig. 5 Fig. l Fig. 3 Fig. E

United States Patent 3,362,666 IEBDLE Dorathy Ann Tow, 3130 Portage Bay Place E., Seattle, Wash. 98162 Filed Dec. 16, i964, Ser. No. 418,677 4 Claims. (Cl. 139%) This invention relates to a new and improved heddle which is used in weaving.

In all looms I have seen the heddle has an enclosed aperture or an eye through which the warp thread is threaded. An individual thread must be threaded through each eye. With small looms having many heddles the operation of threading the heddles is difiicult because of the lack `of space in which to work. As can be imagined with larger looms havin-g hundreds of heddles the operation of threading the heddles may take considerable time. To a degree the threading of the heddles is self-defeating and `the beginner-novice threading the loom may become discouraged and may even quit. From the standpoint of an instructor teaching a class weaving, the repetitive prcess of the threading of the heddles may be considered to be at least partially a waste of time. After the student has threaded a few heddles the operation becomes boring. Quite often weaving is used in therapy, both physical and mental. To the inidvidual undergoing the therapeutic treatment, the threading of the heddles is too discouraging and boring.

More particularly, the conventional design of looms requires that the warp thread for the warp must be cut into as many pieces as are required for the fabric to be woven. The cutting and handling of these many pieces of warp -thread requires auxiliary equipment and a stepby-step procedure. Both of these hamper the efforts of a designer, a teacher, and a student who wish to `produce a `small piece of fabric quickly and who sometimes see changes they wish to make in the design after the warp is seen, in place, on the loom. Gne of the primary purposes of the inventor of this heddle was to design a loom, all parts of which could accept and hold the center of a thread (rather than necessitating an end for threading purposes) so that one continuous thread could be used in the warping process. As visualized, the weaver would (a) secure the warp thread to a hook at the end of a warp apron, (b) lay it in the proper heddle, (c) lay it in the proper dent in the reed, and (d) hook it to the cloth apron. The process would then be reversed (through the reed, through the heddle, and to the warp apron) and repeated across the entire width of the fabric desired. Thus, when the warping process was complete, so also would the threading, sleying and tying-on processes be complete. Since each thread would be positioned immediately in its final place on the loom it would be possible to check and make changes as the warping process proceeded rather than at the close of the whole warping process as was formerly only possible.

The heddle of this invention freely accepts and holds the warp thread without having to thread the thread through an eye in the heddle. As a result, there is a saving in the time required to position the warp thread in the loom. Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a heddle which makes it easier and quicker to thread a loom; to thread a loom with one continuous ythread -or several continuous threads instead of hundreds of individual threads; to thread a loom by passing the thread through a slit in the top of the heddle so that thread is trapped in the eye of the heddle and cannot escape; and, to provide a heddle which is inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other important yobjects and advantages of the invention will be more particularly brought forth upon ice reference to the accompanying drawings, the detailed specication of the invention, and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a specific embodiment of a heddle constructed in accordance with the preferred teaching thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of another heddle of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of another heddle `of this invention;

FIGURE 4, taken on line 4 4 of FIGURE 3, on an enlarged scale, illustrates one or another means for attaching the heddle of FIGURE 3 to a lower heddle rod; and

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of all of the heddles of FIGURES 1, 2, and 3.

In FIGURE 1 there is a side elevational view of one heddle 10 having a body portion 12. In approximately the middle -of the body portion 12 there is as an eye or aperture 14. It is seen that this eye or aperture 14 is elongated and has Icurved ends. In the upper portion of the body 12 there is a slit 16 which divides its upper portion into a wide strip 18 and a narrow strip 2li. The upper end of the body portion 12 is rounded at 21 -on the wide strip 18 and is rounded at 22 on the narrow strip 20. These rounded edges on 21 and 22 make it possible to move a warp thread through the upper part of the slit or opening without catching or tearing the thread. With respect to the eye 14, it is seen that the upper part of the eye 14, viz., that portion of the wide strip adjacent the eye 14 and also adjacent the slit I6 curves downwardly to form a hook 24. The purpose of this hook is `obvious as it is a keeper or tends to trap a thread in the eye portion 14. Also, that portion of the wide strip adjacent the eye 14 bends outwardly at 26, see FIGURE 5. This allows a thread to have maneuvering room in the heddle It), as seen in FIGURE 5 at 14. In the lower end of the body 12 there is an aperture 28 which ts over a lower heddle rod 39. The aperture 28 is only very slightly larger than the lower heddle rod 39 so it is possible for an individual to position the heddle 1@ substantially at right angles to the lower heddle rod 3@ and to move the heddle lil on the lower heddle rod 30.

In threading the heddle 10 a thread -may be positioned as illustrated by the dotted line 32, as illustrated in the entrance way to the slit 16. Then, the thread 32 may be moved downwardly in the slit 1d so as to be in the aperture 14. Hook 24 makes it possible to have thread 32 trapped in the aperture and the outwardly curving portion 26 gives it room to move as weaving proceeds.

In FIGURE 2 there is illustrated a heddle 40. The heddle 40 is substantially the same as the heddle 10 and therefore like reference numerals will be employed where applicable. The difference between the heddle 4@ and the heddle 10 is that in the wide strip 18 there is an aperture 42 which ts over an upper heddle rod 44 to be inserted after threading has been completed. The aperture 42 is slightly larger in interior dimensions than the exterior dimensions of the heddle rod 44. Likewise, the lower aperture 28 is slightly larger in interior dimensions than the exterior dimensions of the lower heddle rod 30. This makes it possible to position the heddle 40 at substantially right angles to the heddle rods 39 and 44 and move the heddle 40 on the heddle rods Sil and 44. This heddle 40 could be used in circumstances where greater stability of the harness and heddle mechanism is desired.

In FIGURES 3 and 4 there is illustrated a heddle Sil. The heddle 50 is substantially the same as the heddle 1li and therefore like reference numerals will be employed where applicable. In the lower end of the body 12 of the heddle 50 there is the aperture 28. A slit 52 connects the lower end of the heddle Si) with the aperture 28. The slit 52 divides the lower end of the heddle 50 into one member 54 and the second member 56. The members 54 and 56 should be of substantially the same width. The members 54 and 56 may be sprung apart slightly so that they are slightly off center. Then, the slit 52 may be placed over the lower heddle rod 30 with one member 56 on one side of the heddle rod 30 and the other member 54 on the other side of the heddle rod 30. The heddle 50 may be placed over the lower heddle rod 30 so that the member 56 is on one side of the heddle rod 30 and the member 54 is on the other side of the heddle rod 30. Then, the heddle rod 50 may be lowered ove1 the heddle rod 3@ until the aperture 28 snaps over the heddle rod 30. From this it is seen that the heddle 50 may be easily positioned on the heddle rod 30 and that it will stay there. Further, the heddle 5t) may be easily removed from the heddle rod 39.

The heddles 10, 40, and Si) may be of metalstamped and finished to the desired configuration, or may be of molded plastic. It is seen that the heddles are relatively thin, but stiff enough t stand on their own without being easily bent out of the desired configuration. Also, the heddles are relatively wide and many times longer than wide. The heddles are a thin, substantially fiat elongated b'ody being longer than they are wide. Sheet metal may be properly stamped and finished to give a desirable heddle.

The art of weaving has been undergoing development for many milleniums. From what evidence is available, it appears that in the old stone age, approximately 8000 years B.C., crude looms were employed. In the new stone age, about 4000 years B.C., a somewhat more advanced loom was employed. In this span of years there have been developed many looms and many types of heddles. From having reviewed the literature on weaving and from having worked with looms, I do not know of a heddle of the same design as heddles 10, 40, and 50. One heddle of interest is that of Ruegg, United States Letters Patent No. 1,341,245. The first species of FIGURES l, 2, and 3; the species of FIGURES 4, 5, and 6; and, the third species of FIGURES 7, 8, and 9 are of interest. In regard to the threading of the heddles of these three species are treated in the same manner and therefore will be discussed as one large group. Briey, the heddles are positioned on the lower heddle rod and the upper heddle rod. On the upper heddle rod the opening 19 of the species of FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 are positioned on the upper heddle rod; the openings 27 of FIGURES 4, 5, and 6 are positioned on the upper heddle rod; and, the openings 38 of the species 7, 8, and 9 are positioned on the upper heddle rod. To thread the heddle, the two upper members are spread apart and the thread is threaded between these two upper spread apart members. Then the thread is moved down between these two members into the aperture or eye in the heddle. This limitation means that one continuous thread cannot be employed with the heddles of Ruegg. As contrasted with this, the applicant need not employ an upper heddle rod, or if an upper heddle rod is employed, it is to be inserted after threading has been completed. It is possible to take one continuous thread and position this thread in the opening of the slit 16 and then slide the thread down to go into the eye 14 of the heddle. The difference between my heddles 10, 40, and f) and the heddles of Ruegg make it possible for a person to thread my heddles in much less time than the heddles of Ruegg.

Having presented my invention, what I claim is:

1. A heddle, said heddle comprising:

(a) a thin, substantially fiat elongated body being longer than wide;

(b) in the body there being an aperture;

(c) a slit in a first end portion of the body and connecting with said aperture;

(d) said slit dividing said first end portion of the body into a wide strip and a narrow strip;

(e) said wide strip adjacent the aperture and adjacent the slit curving downwardly t0 form a hook for positioning a thread in said aperture; and

(f) a second aperture in a second end portion for receiving a lower heddle rod.

2. A heddle, said heddle comprising:

(a) a thin, substantially fiat elongated body being longer than wide;

(b) in the body there being an aperture;

(c) a slit in a first end portion of the body and connecting with said aperture;

(d) said slit dividing said first end portion of the body into a wide strip and a narrow strip;

(e) said wide strip adjacent the aperture and adjacent the slit curving downwardly to form a hook for positioning a thread in said aperture;

(f) a second aperture in a second end portion for receiving a lower heddle rod; and

(g) a third aperture in said wide strip for receiving an upper heddle rod.

3. A heddle, said heddle comprising:

(a) a thin, substantially fiat elongated body being longer than wide;

(b) in the body there being an aperture;

(c) a slit in a first end portion of the body and conneet-ing with said aperture;

(d) said slit dividing said first end portion of the body into a wide strip and a narrow strip;

(e) said wide strip adjacent the aperture and adjacent the slit curving downwardly to form a hook for positioning a thread in said aperture;

(f) a second aperture in a second end portion for receiving a lower heddle rod; and

(g) a second slit between the end of the second end portion and the second aperture for ease of positioning the heddle on the lower heddle rod.

4. A heddle, said heddle comprising:

(a) a thin, substantially fiat elongated body being longer than wide;

(b) in the body there being an aperture;

(c) a 'slit in a first end portion of the body and connecting with said aperture;

(d) said slit dividing said first end portion of the body into a wide strip and a narrow strip;

(e) said wide strip adjacent the `aperture and adjacent the slit curving downwardly to form a hook for positioning a thread in said aperture;

(f) that portion of the wide strip juxtapositioned to the aperture curving outwardly;

(g) said end portions adjacent the slit having round edges; and

(h) a second aperture in a second end portion for receiving a lower heddle rod.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 68,444 9/1867 Kennedy 139-96 226,886 4/1880 seawan 139-96 887,102 5/1908 Lackey 139-96 1,109,306 9/1914 schung 139-96 1,341,245 5/1920 Rue-gg 139-96 1,567,102 12/1925 Baldersron 139-96 2,039,209 4/1936 Blum 139-368 2,462,581 2/1949 watson 28-54 2,596,445 5/1952 Sperry 139-96 3,088,496 5/1963 Houghton et a1. 139-96 X MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

I. KEE CHI, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HEDDLE, SAID HEDDLE COMPRISING: (A) A THIN, SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT ELONGATED BODY BEING LONGER THAN WIDE; (B) IN THE BODY THERE BEING AN APERTURE; (C) A SLIT IN A FIRST END PORTION OF THE BODY AND CONNECTING WITHIN SAID APERTURE; (D) SAID SLIT DIVIDING SAID FIRST END PORTION OF THE BODY INTO A WIDE STRIP AND A NARROW STRIP; (E) SAID WIDE ADJACENT THE APERTURE AND ADJACENT THE SLIT CURVING DOWNWARDLY TO FORM A HOOK FOR POSITIONING A THREAD IN SAID APERATURE; AND (F) A SECOND APERTURE IN A SECOND END PORTION FOR RECEIVING A LOWER HEDDLE ROD. 